Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-20
RETALIATION ON CANADA
EDMUNDs REPORTS A
FISHERIES BILL.

against American Interests by Treat
Ing the Dominion to "a Dose of Its Own
Mediclne-The Report of the Commit
tee.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-In the Senate
to day MIR. Edmunds, from the Committee
On Foreign Relations, reported the bill to
authorize the President OF the United
States to protect and defend the rights of
American fishing vessels, American fish
ermen, American trading and other YES
sells in certain cases and for other pur-
poses. He said that he had also written
report on tne subject. which he had
been directed by the committee to sub
NIT, together with documents, papers,
evidence, etc. He gave notice
that just as soon as the bill and
report were printed, so that the Senators
could examine them, he should ask the
Senate TO take up the bill and proceed
with ii and dispose of il at the earliest
possible day. In the report the committee
hold to be unfounded the pretension that
has sometimes been asserted by the gov
ernmeut of GEeata Britain, that American
fishing Wessels Or others have no right,
except at the pleasure OfLhe British gov.
ernment, to be IN or to prosecute lawful
pursuits in the great arms Of the sea eX-
tending between parts OF the mainland
belonging to the British, and which are
more than six marine miles broad. The
committee is clear in its opinion that any
pretension tnat exclusive British iuris.
diction exists either by force OF public
law or by treaty within the headlands en-
bracing bodies of water more than six ma
rine miles broad, must be quite untena-
ble. The three mile limit is construed to
mean three miles from the actual shore,
whatever may be the actual shape OF the
shore.
CANADIAN LEGISLATION.
After review of the Canadian legisla-
ton regulating the rights of American
fishermen in Canadian waters, the COM
mittee repeats that it is OF the opinion
that this legislation is IN violation of the
treaty of 1918 and of the principles OF
comfy and good neIghborhOod, and says:
Had it been intended 10 harass and en-
barrass American fishing and other
vessels and TO make it impractica ble
for them TO enjoy their treaty and other
common rights, such legislation would
have purposely adapted to that end.
the committee gave in brief a statement
of the seizure OF eaCn of the vessels made
by Canadian officials during the past year
ITO the great embarrassment aud injury
OF American rights aud interests"
THE OBJECT.
The committee adds: "IU will be seen
from the correspondence and papers sub
mitted by the President in his message
on the subject on Dec. s, and
from the testimony taken by
the committee that some of these
instances OF seizure or detention, or driV-
ing vessels away py threats, etc, were
i'm clear violation of the treaty OF 1918, and
That Others were made On such slender
and technical grounds, either as applied
TO fishing or COmmerc al rights, as to
make 1t impossible TO believe that they
were made With the large aud just object
OF protecting substantial rights against
real and substantial invasion, but must
have been made either under the stimulus
OF cupdlty of the seizing officer, sharp
ened and made safe by the extraordinary
legislation to which the committee has
referred, whereby signing officer, no
matter how unjust or illegal his proce-
dure may have been, is made practically
secure rom the necessity OF making sub.
stantial redress 10 the party wronged,
Or OF punishment, OF else they must
ihaVe afisen from systematic
disposition on The part of the Dominion
authorities to VeX and harass American
fshing and ether vessels. so as to produce
such state of embarrassment and ineon-
venlence with respect to intercourse with
the provinces as TO coerce the United
States INTO arrangements OF general reci-
procity with the Dominion"
THE TREATIES.
The committee says the treaties be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain on the subject of inter communi-
cation and the rignts Of citizens and sub
Jects while IN the ports and territories OF
The other, have not excluded British do
minlOn OF North America { with possibly
certain exceptions as to intercourse by
land), aud sucu intercourse STRANGELY
enough still remains the subject of legis-
q rGI n no Z fEvA fr1t. .Ftfnu
legislation TO be tolerated must be mu-
tually friendly and reciprocal, and laws
upon the subject must he administered
fairly and generously. and not in spirit
OF carping at sma3 matters or in any
other untrieudly way. The committee is
painen to believe that such has not been
the course OF British legislation or of
administrative praclIce.
THE FISHERIES.
The reports concluding paragraphs
contain the essence DO h of the
report ana the Till which II accom-
panies. They axe as follows: SIN
view OF al! that has taken place the COM
mIttee thinks IL TO be The duty OF the
United States, ia firm ana just way, to
protect and defend the just and
common rights OF the people Of the United
States, whether fishermen, or traders, or
travellers, or all, bv al such measures as
may be within our power The IN a6ure
Tie committee proposes to this end rests
upon the principle universally IecOg-
nlzed az right and necessary in the inter-
course oi nations, and it has often been
resored to IN one form or another by
many nations.
THE RECOMMCNDATION.
III ~ recommended that the President of
the United states be invested with power,
and that il b. made his duty whenever he
shall be satisfied that unjust, Unfair or
unfriendiy conduct is practiced by the |
British government in respect OF our cit- |
zeus and their property hin ports or
waters OF the British dominions in North |
America, to deny 10 tho subjects OF that |
governmentin British North America ana |
their property, or TO any classes OF them,
such privileges In the waters and ports Of |
the United States as he may think proper
tn name, aud TO suspend |
IN respect OF such vessels or classes OF
vessels, on such property or classes of
property Of subjects OF such govern
rnent, the ,ight OF entering or being
brought within the waters or ports of the
United States, so that he shall be able
from time 20 time, as each emergency
may arise, TO preserve intercourse be-
tween the United states and that govern !
in a If fuf hu